Program for Clinical Research Infrastructure

Improvement of research infrastructure

While Denmark’s well-developed electronic databases and registries offer many advantages for conducting clinical and epidemiological research, improvements are still needed. One focus area identified by leading clinical researchers and hospital managers is the need for improved medical databases and registries, especially in regards to issues of data quality and content.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation has after international peer review awarded a two-year grant of DKK 24,330,250 (€3.26 million) to Danish Regions for the co-financing of the Program for Clinical Research Infrastructure (PROCRIN). The Lundbeck Foundation has granted an equivalent amount for the program. By supporting PROCRIN, the foundations aim to catalyze new activities and collaborations that will improve the overall Danish health data infrastructure already put into practice in the public sector.

The goal of PROCRIN is to improve medical database research by developing effective national structures and procedures. By standardizing and optimizing the health data that can be analyzed, clinical researchers will be better able to identify disease factors and treatment effects which will ultimately benefit the quality of patient treatment and safety. A major objective is to integrate research findings into daily clinical work, building bridges between research and clinical practice.

Danish Regions is the grant holder for the combined program. The steering group for the project has the Danish Ministry of Health and Prevention as the Chair, and the other members are Danish Regions, The Danish Quality Unit of General Practice (DAK-E) and The Organization of Danish Medical Societies.